Flexible, retractable dispensing spout



Aug. 28, 1951 l. H. RIEKE FLEXIBLE, RETRACTABLE DISPENSING sPoUT FiledMay l5, 1948 Patented Aug. 28, 1951 FLEXIBLE, RETRACTABLE DISPENSINGSPOUT' Irvin H. Rieke, Auburn, Ind., assigner to Rieke Metal ProductsCorporation, Auburn, Ind., a

corporation Application May 13, 1948, Serial No. 26,832

7 Claims. 1

Thisinvention relates to an extensible and. contractible pouring spoutstructure normally nestable in a container and mounted in an openingtherein and which spout is of sealing or scalable type.

This invention is an improvement upon the invention disclosed andclaimed in copending application, Serial No. 752,707, filed June 5,1947,and entitled Container Nestable, Extensible and Contractible PouringSpout, now Patent No. 2,561,596.

One object of the present invention is to improve the outer protectiveseal mechanism whereby it may be readily detached and attached.

Another object of the present invention is to dispose the spout sealremote from the pouring edge thereof so that the latter will not affectthe` pouring action.

A feature of the present invention, in addition to the structure wherebythe aforesaid objects are accomplished, resides in a rupture pull membercarried by the spout seal.

A further feature of the invention resides in a spout structure formedof a flexible plastic material, rubber or the like, comprising a highlyflexible cup-like member with sufficient flexibilityY to roll overitself from spout nesting position to spout-extending position, and witha spout portion of heavier cross section to render it more rigid andself-sustaining to prevent collapse thereof. flexibility of the cupmember having its large end or base secured to the container, the spoutis additionally capable of angular adjustment relative to the containerso that the contents may be poured downwardly at an angle to thehorizontal. This is accomplished by forming the conical base portion ofthe spout of a substantially lighter gauge material than the gauge ofthemore rigid pouring portion of the spout, but of such character thatit will hold and maintain its position when set at an angle to thecontainer, as well as permit rolling over upon itself as it is movedfrom its inner nested position to its extended pouring position.

Other objects and features of the invention will be set forth more fullyhereinafter.

The full nature of the invention will be under- .stood from theaccompanying drawings and the following description and claims:

In the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a conventional cover, such as a lid for acontainer and with one form of the invention applied thereto.

Fig. 2 is a central sectional view of the same By reason of therelatively7 greaterA 2 taken on line 2--2 of Fig. 1 and in the directionof the arrows.

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the spout portion of the invention, thedetachable protective cap being removed therefrom, the spout beingillustrated in sealed condition prior to rupturing.

Fig. 4 is sectional View of a somewhat modified form of the spout shownin Fig. 2 with the spoutl protective cap removed, the spout sealpartially severed therefrom, dotted lines illustrating a convenient toolfor effecting spout seal rupturing.

Fig. 4A is illustrative of the spout as shown in Fig. 4, when flexedupon its supporting base to extend at an acute angle to its mounting.

In the drawings I |0 indicates a can cover proper having, if desired,reenforcing flange and chime anchoring outer portion ||2. Said coverincludes an aperture ||3 defined by outwardly and reversely directedflange portion I |4 in turn terminating in an inwardly and reverselydirectedl bead I5.

A frusto-conical flexible cup member ||6 in-v cludes at its outer andlarger end a tubular portion ||'I which terminates in an outwardlydirected flange I I8 that is grooved as at ||9 upon its rear face. Ananchor ring includes flat portion |20 and tubular portion |2|. Theformer includes a concentric inwardly directed portion |22 andprojectinginwardly therefrom are the flange members |23 spaced apart asat |24 and having central offset raised portions |2311. Theseilanges areinclined for breech lock purposes. The tubular portion |2| includes acurled bead |25 bearing upon cover ||0 immediately contiguous to neck H4about the opening I I3 therein. The aforesaid ring structure clampinglyand sealably secures the spout to the cover in and atv the opening.

Disposed Iwithin the exible frusto-conical cup member ||6 is a reverselyextending frusto-conical pouring spout portion |28, the same beingintegral and united by annular ridged junction portion |21 to provide atelescopic and extensible pouring spout structure, The free end I 28 ofportion |26 terminates in or contiguous toy a plane including flange|20.

Herein immediately contiguous to the junction portion |21, the cupmember I6 is sealed by a closure portion comprising a seal as shown at|29. Such seal is ridge connected thereto `as at |30. The seal includesthe integral pull member |3|' The entire telescopic spout structure isof rubber, on rubber like or flexible plastic material so that` it canbe turned and extendedas shown n'Fig. 4:

and ruptured and fully opened as partially indicated in said figure.

The open outer end |28 of the spout portion |26 may be closed by aclosure comprising a disc member |32 including a tubular portion |33seating in the spout. Said tubular portion terminates in channel portion|34 that nests upon the seat at the end |28 of spout portion |26.

Bearing on channel portion |34 isl a retainer comprising a protectivecap |35 having a pair of elongated openings |36 formed therein andproviding therebetween the finger portion |31. The adjacent stock |38,provided when the openings The invention claimed is:

1. In combination a container portion having an opening therein, atelescopic type collapsible and expansible spout of flexible materialdisposed in the opening, means securing one end of the spout to saidportion at the opening thereof, the spout being normally disposed suchthat the major and intermediate portions thereof are nested Within thecontainer, a closure portion integral with the spout and disposedinwardly thereof, and a pull member rigid therewith and are formed, isdisposed to form nger portions in ,Y

close proximity so that both extensions thereof nest in the disc member|32.

As illustrated, the protective cap is arched and l its periphery isformed in an outwardly directed flange |39 terminating with a downturnedportion |40 which then projects outwardly as the spaced tongues |41. Y

After the spout structure, in nested relation, is permanently attachedto the cover H0 by the anchor ring aforesaid, the spout end seal |32having a slight friction t is applied to the small end of the spout.Then the retainer or cap |35 is applied by presenting tongues I4| tomatching spaces |24 and pressing inwardly on the retainer disposestongues |41 below the plane of flange portions |23. Retainer rotationthen registers the tongues Iwith offset portions I23a of said flanges.To extend the spout, the reverse operaltion of the retainer is eifectedand then the spout seal |32, etc. is removed. The portion |26 may thenbe extended as shown in Fig. 4. Resealing is eiected by pushing inwardlyupon end |28 after seal |32 is applied. Then the retainer is applied.

Note that the erst time the spout is @mended `spout portion |26 is underslight compression.

This means that seal |32 is held in place by the retainer bearingthereon, and the retainer is held in place by this yielding formation,that is, tongues |4I are yieldingly trapped as it were in pockets |23aand vibration will not accidently result in retainer rotation sufficientto release the retainer.

As more clearly illustrated in Fig. 4, the ilexible cup member IIB is ofsubstantially lighter gauge than the same material forming the morerigid and self-supporting spout portion |26. A relatively greaterflexibility of the cup member permits it to readily roll over itselffrom its inwardly-extending nesting position toits outwardly-extendingpouring position. But in addition thereto it has the great advantage Vofflexing about its supported base so that the pouring spout |26 mayextend at an angle tothe container which is highly advantageous in di'-recting the liquid contents therefrom during `the pouring operation.While the invention herein has been described in great detail in theforegoing specification, the same is to be by way of example, only forthat form so described, as Well as others `which will readily suggestthemselves to persons skilled in the barrel seal and pouring spout art,all are considered to be within the scope of the present inventionasdefined by the appended claims.

arranged Wholly within the spout for closure portion rupture from thespout upon sufficient outward pull thereon.

2. In combination a container portion having an opening therein, a.telescopic type collapsible and expansible spout of flexible materialdisposed in the opening, means securing one end of the spout to saidportion at the opening thereof, the spout being normally disposed suchthat the major and intermediate portions thereof are nested Within thecontainer, a closure for the other end of the spout, a. retainer forsaid olosure, and a breech-lock connection between said retainer andsaid means, said breech-lock connection being of the pocket-tongueseating type, the retainer normally bearing upon the closure forretention thereof and the spout yieldingly constraining the retainer topocket seating.

3. Structure as defined by claim 2 wherein there is provided a closureportion integral with the spout and disposed inwardly thereof, and aYpull member rigid therewith and arranged for closure portion rupturefor spout opening.

4. Structure as defined by claim 2 wherein the said closure is dishedand includes a portion seatable in the spout, said retainer having acentrally disposed diametral nger engageable portion registering withthe closure dished portion.

5. Structure as defined by claim 4 wherein there is provided a closureportion integral with the spout and disposed inwardly thereof, and apull member rigid therewith and arranged for closure portion rupture forspout opening. y

6. In combination a container portion having an opening therein, atelescopic type collapsible and expansible spout disposed in theopening, a portion thereof being of flexible material, means securingone end of the spout to said container portion at the opening thereof, aclosure for the other end of said spout, said spout and closure beingnormally disposed such that the major and intermediate portions thereofare nestedwithin the container, a second closure portion integral withthe spout and disposed inwardly thereof, and a pull member rigidtherewith and arranged wholly within the spout intermediate said firstand second closures for eifecting rupture of said second closure fromthe spout upon sufficientY outward pull thereon after said rst mentionedclosure is removed. i

'7; In combination, a liquid container having an opening therein, and aself-contained pouring spout assembly including a supporting ringsecured over and about said opening, a pouring spout comprising atubular body of exible material having a frusto-conical flexible cuppedportion secured at the larger end thereof to said container by saidsupporting ring, and a spout portion of less diameter than and integralwith said cupped portion extending from the smaller end thereof, saidpouring spout being characterized by the material of said cupped portionbeing of less gauge than that of said spout portion and suciently4:flexible to permit it to roll over itself from a spout nestingposition within the cupped portion and container to a spout extendedposition without the container, and to permit exing thereof to anangular position relative to its supporting ring while self-sustainingin both its nested and angular extended positions, said spout portionbeing of relatively heavier gauge than said cupped portion to resistcollapsing and to maintain its tubular form in both said nested positionand extended pouring position when said cupped portion is flexed at anangle.

IRVIN H. RIEKE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

Number 6 UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Stutzer et al. Feb. 27, 1894Schafer Apr.,21, 1896 Weil July 11, 1916 Bigoney Jan. 6, 1920 LukenbillMay 12, 1931 Rollason July 2, 1935 Bodor Mar. 24, 1936 Barker May 9,1939 Straub Mar. 3, 1942

